Change is Coming ICA is the Constant on Protecting and Promoting the Profession
NEWS
As the December Edition of the American Chiropractor is sent, we Likely will know the outcome of the US elections. This article required submission ahead of election day, so the specifics of the election outcome are not the topic. Rather the reality that Change in Washington, DC is coming no matter who wins. The International Chiropractors Association (ICA) is entering its 99th year in 2025 and throughout our history has been the constant within the profession, true to goal of our founder, Dr. BJ. Palmer to protect and promote chiropractic as a separate and distinct profession with its philosophy, art, and science.
Focus on Fundamentals - A Unified Voice and Vision. The ICA Board of Directors has been focused forward this year. Our overarching conversation has been around strengthening education and international engagement, increasing membership, and enhancing the ICA’s global presence and impact within the chiropractic community through effectively communicating its values and contributions to chiropractic practice currently and historically.The ICAStrategic Plan is available at www.c h i ro p ra ct i c.o rg/i ca -st rate g i cp la n/
Policy and Legislative Planning: ICA leadership is developing a 2025 Legislative and Policy Agenda for the ICA in which we desire to see engagement with stakeholders at the state and national levels. The reality is there is much we all have in common. As a profession it is important for us to unify and speak with one voice on those things we can. And where there is an issue we do not agree on, it is important to treat each other with respect and professionalism, while not compromising principles and values.
As most know,the ICA did not endorse H.R. 1610 and S.799 the Medicare Modernization Act because we identified issues that were not addressed. Visit www.chiropractic.org/the-ica-does-not-endorse-themedicare-modernization-act-and-here-iswhy/o to read that full announcement.
We are unwavering in our focus to have real fixes accomplished in Medicare and will not settle for a bill that excludes the Opt Out Provision and leaves all the decisions in the hands of CMS with no firm timeline for implementation. Instead of waging a negative campaign against the legislation, we have engaged with legislators in a positive campaign supporting Medicare reform that gets the full job done and does not leave important matters on the table for another legislative session. By the time this goes to press, Congress will have returned and may have decided to move legislation forward. We have continued to stand up for the profession throughout the legislative cycle without attacking others and in focusing on the needs of the profession.
Standing Up for Chiropractic to Have a Seat at Every Health Care Policy Table: As we prepare to enter 2025, ICA continues its focus on expanding the presence of chiropractic in health policy discussions, committees, and activities. In 2021, in a comparison of 58 high-income countries the United States spent 17.8% of GDP on healthcare spending-twice that of Germany,four times as much as South Korea and ranked at or near the bottom on every outcome. Our statistics continue to decline on health status.
• Lowest life expectancy at birth.
• Highest rates of obesity by two-fold.
• Highest mother and infant mortality rates
• Highest rates of multiple chronic conditions.
• High suicide rates
The chiropractic profession is part of the solution to turning the tide both on health care spending and health outcomes across the nation. ICA will be providing real world solutions to legislators and policy makers in 2025. Come join us and be a part of BJ’s organization as we move into our 99th year and beyond!
